Sarris: The catcher is watching you
From SABR member Eno Sarris at FanGraphs on September 16, 2015:
As Melvin Upton steps to the plate and readies for the pitch, Buster Posey appraises him. First, he looks at his feet as they dig in. Gradually, his eyes move up Upton’s body, brazenly staring as he takes in information. Down pops the sign as the catcher moves his attention to the pitcher.
It’s not just idle ogling. He’s looking for clues. Which ones?
Brandon Moss thought the most likely thing was that the catcher is looking for a change in approach, particularly due to count. “I’d never tell anyone my two-strike approach,” he told me when I asked him what he did to make more contact. “We all know when we have to make a small adjustment to get a pitcher off a spot. I think the catcher can see it. They watch the hitter get in the box with their feet. They’re seeing what you’re doing, they always watch.”
Read the full article here: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-catcher-is-watching-you/
Originally published: September 16, 2015. Last Updated: September 16, 2015.